VP Garang in E. Equatoria over escalating violence against humanitarian community

JUBA – South Sudan’s Vice President for Gender and Youth Cluster Rebecca Garang De Mabior has traveled to the Eastern Equatoria state’s capital Torit to meet local government officials and members of the humanitarian community over threats by local youth.

This comes two weeks after the suspension of aid operation by the government of Eastern Equatoria state in Torit following escalation in attacks on humanitarian workers by local youth who claim they are victim of “unfair employment policies”.

“Today the Vice President was welcomed to Torit, Eastern Equatoria, by the Hon. Governor Louis Lobong Lojore and his state government,” the office of the vice-president said in a statement following the arrival of Mrs. Garang on Monday.

“The high-level mission, led by H.E. the Vice President, came about as a result of an urgent issue concerning the upraising of youth in the area (and around the country) against humanitarian agencies due to what the they have referred to as ‘unfair employment policies,'” the statement added.

The statement further said the delegation “was able to hear from and speak directly to representatives of the aggrieved youth, political leaders in the state and the NGO’s/ UN agencies on the ground.”

The delegation includes ministers of youth and sport Albino Bol Dhieu, humanitarian affairs, Peter Mayen, minister of environment and forestry, Josephine Napwon Cosmas, deputy inspector-general of police General James Puy Yaka, and Acting UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator Mathew Hollingworth.